Château Haut-Marbuzet - Saint-Estèphe 2021

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

This world-famous cru is located in Marbuzet, a hillside facing the Gironde. Its vineyards lie halfway between Cos d'Estournel and Montrose. Henri Dubosq, a key figure in the Médoc, has been successfully vinifying the estate's wines since 1982. In 2006, he joined forces with Philippe Jorand, a Michelin-starred chef, to enhance the 13 hectares of Château Layauga-Duboscq, located on excellent terroirs around Gaillan and Queyrac. The wines of Haut-Marbuzet are always of great constitution, combining roundness and voluptuousness, with a great aptitude for ageing. Haut-Marbuzet is truly an unmissable super-property in the appellation.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

The 2021 is austere at this stage, but the nose, marked by oak and oriental spices, already reveals the beginnings of complexity: black fruits, undergrowth, game and pencil lead. Firm from the outset, with a good density of substance, corseted by a tannic framework that is both thick and coated, the palate reflects the strong character of the vintage. The long finish augurs well for the future. One thing is certain: the future belongs to it. 2028-2035

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

True to form, Haut-Marbuzet has produced a charming 2021, a silky wine with a caressing texture and soft tannins. The Merlot grapes give it the roundness and smoothness that have made it such a success.

About the domain :

No other Bordeaux cru can boast such a community of unconditional wine lovers. For over thirty years, Haut-Marbuzet and its truculent and dynamic owner, Henri Dubosq, now supported by his sons, have conquered the hearts of discerning oenophiles. If the wines have long been considered charming in their youth (which they undeniably are), but limited in terms of ageing potential, it takes tasting mature vintages of this Saint-Estèphe cru to understand that its terroir is above all capable of producing wines that age wonderfully. The old Merlot vines planted on blue clay give Haut-Marbuzet's bouquet superb truffle notes reminiscent of certain old Pomerols. Like many other wines, Haut-Marbuzet suffered a slight setback in the early 2000s, but its comeback in recent years makes it more essential than ever in the cellar of wine-lovers.

Wine Enthusiast

James Suckling

About the wine:

Red currants, iron, white pepper and orange zest sprinkled with fine sweet spices and a touch of chili chocolate. The palate is tight and finely grained, with medium to full body and a tight, juicy finish. The lovely tannic structure and minerality carry through to a long, compact finish. An excellent Saint-Estèphe in this vintage, surpassing many others. Drink now, but better from 2026.

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

The first impression is one of maturity, a blend of blackcurrant, blackberry and black cherry. The attack confirms this, but the palate and finish reveal a very structured wine, straightforward, firm and intense. The palette is enriched by spices and menthol. While some primeurs are perceived as "ready to drink", this is a classic bottle, so you'll have to wait and see.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

What complexity and power in this wine. It plays on many levels, sometimes subtly, sometimes vigorously. The innumerable olfactory nuances speak in favor of its subtlety, with hints of Sichuan pepper, peppermint, blueberry and graphite. Fleshy and dense, the wine's tannins are angular but in tune with the tension of the acid structure. A wine that by no means reveals all its secrets, but clearly displays its ambitions. 2027-2047

Anthocyanes - Yohan Castaing

About the wine:

Fresh, minty with notes of graphite and ripe black fruit, Ch. Haut-Marbuzet has a bouquet that is both very Medoc-like and charming. Juicy and linear on the palate, with a delicate grain, fine tannins and a barely perceptible woody imprint. The sensation of slow maturity. A very fine bottle in the making. Well done!